Travel Can Broaden Us, Help Us Grow, and Prepare Us for Life When There Are Special Needs

By Karen Kaplan

I was very fortunate to have parents who encouraged me to travel. At first, they decided where and when we would go. They initially modeled positive travel preparation and then actively participated in travel activities. Looking back now, I realize that helping individuals who learn differently travel can help them develop key independent living skills and bring more joy into their lives.

Just imagine the different worlds people with special needs might experience through travel. They can learn to plan and execute a trip, including understanding the language used during the process. You can teach them how to navigate an airport and catch a flight, while exposing them to various foods and beverages.

Think of all the directions, commands, and questions they might encounter and need to understand and follow during travel (stop at the corner, put on your seatbelt, what would you like to eat, where are you going, show me your passport, pack your suitcase, get your coat, grab a towel, get ready to go to dinner, would you like to go to the park or shopping center?).

Consider the problem-solving involved. They may need to understand the weather conditions to pack suitable clothing. They also must figure out how long they will be gone to decide how many items to pack. Additionally, packing a backpack for a flight, train ride, or long drive requires choosing the right number of items and estimating the trip duration to bring what will keep them occupied. If they take medication or have special hygiene supplies, they will need to factor those into their planning.

Parents can ask them to explore flights, whether direct or with layovers, to determine which options are easier or less expensive. This encourages problem-solving. They may suggest that the individual map out the travel plans. If they need a car to get to the airport, they might have them figure out who to call and make a reservation with an Uber, Lyft, or taxi. This also involves problem-solving.

Traveling requires many social skills, such as asking for help, greeting others, dressing appropriately, understanding how others might feel, expressing fears or concerns, and behaving properly in different situations (like in a restaurant, library, art gallery, theater, campsite, train, or plane).

A journey helps individuals see how others in different cities and cultures live, work, and recreate. It can expand their awareness, understanding, and creativity, as well as bring joy and pleasure. I believe that helping individuals who learn differently travel can help them expand their knowledge, develop essential life skills, and most importantly, find joy, fun, and pleasure.  

Karen Kaplan, MS, is a native San Franciscan. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, in speech pathology and audiology. She minored in special education and obtained her speech therapist and special education credentials in California. Karen worked as a speech therapist for schools for 20 years before opening her own residential and education program for students with autism. She worked in credential programs at Sacramento State University as well as UC Davis and spent 20 years directing private schools for those with autism and similar learning challenges. Karen founded a non-profit, Offerings, which helps cultures globally to understand those with developmental challenges. For seven years, she founded and facilitated an autism lecture series and resource fair in Northern California. Karen still facilitates an annual Autism Awesomeness event. She is currently consulting, helping families, schools, and centers for children, teens, and adults. Karen has authored three books: Reach Me Teach Me: A Public School Program for the Autistic Child; A Handbook for Teachers and Administrators, On the Yellow Brick Road: My Search for Home and Hope for the Child with Autism, and Typewriting to Heaven… and Back: Conversations with My Dad on Death, Afterlife and Living  (which is not about autism but about having important conversations with those we love).